Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-06-27
FISHING IN WISCONSIN.


Lakes of the Northwest,
Especial Correspondence
WYocENA, Wis, June Is.
1t was before May day that Keifer, my
German friend, and started out to "do" the
lakes of Wisconsin as fishermen, and have
here jotted down some of the incidents that
befel u.s.
Wyocena was selected as cur starting
point. Arriving here we were informed
that it was too early for anything but sucker
spearing, or pickerel shooting. The latter
phrase caught us. Pickerel shooting was q
new idea to us. OF course we must try it,
But first we wonld try sucker spearing.
Procuring spears we were piloted to Duck
creek, which we found narrow, tortuous and
willow lined with deep pools and rifles. 1t
looked rather dubious Tor sport, and Keller
shook his head.
But those black pools literally swarmed
with the great, lubberly fish, and ere we had
gone a mile we were fairly satiated with
slaughter.
"Shonson," said Keifer disgustedly, 81 vas
ashamed to call dis feeshing." I agreed with
him and we gave it up.
Next day we tried pickerel shooting The
banks of Duck creek are very low, and in the
spring it overf1ows the vast stretch Of marsh
through which it wanders 1t is upon these
water covered marshes that the pickerel shoot
ing is done.
The great fish swim about in the shallow
water, often with a part of their backs ex-
posed offering a fair mark.
Armed with our Winchesters, and provided
with long topped rubber boots, we waded
about in search of our prey. A splash, a
CLEAN of white as the long fish darts away.
Quick with your gun! Crack! Hurrah! You
have him!
Candor compels me to confess that our
misses We're much more frequent than our
hits; yet when tired out, we had half dozen
fine pickerel, weighing from six to nine
pounds each.
***
Being informed that the perfection of black
bass fishing could be found at Pardee lake,
Keifer and set out to try our luck Now,
in all the twenty lakes we had fished in Kei-
fer had never yet landed fish of that sort
1t was a beautiful day. clear and cool Not
a breath of air stirred the budding foliage of
the trees that line the lake or rippled the
cleaning surface of the water.
We were trolling, and presently had splen-
did luck. In a short time several fine pick
erel were Topping in the bottom of the boat,
| but as each one came over the side Keifer
would give snort of disgust. He wanted
bass. At length, when the forenoon was
nearly spent and the coveted fish had not vet
gladdened his sight, he exclaimed as he drew
the glittering decoy through the placid
water:
"ohonson, I don't pelieve there ish Won
plack pass in dis water; vat you tink, ehl"
l was securing another noble pickerel and
made no reply. None was needed, for almost
instantly he cried:
'Mein Gott hat heem."
I never knew what he did, but the next
moment was struggling in the water Com
ing to the surface after my involuntary
founders | looked for the boat. 1t was about
a rod away, Keifer coolly playing that con
founded "plack pass" utterly unconscious Of
the mishap he had caused me- l struck Out
for the boat and succeeded in clambering in
As it swayed and tipped under my hand ht
looked up angrily.
"Eef you makes me lose dot feesh." he said
menacingly.
The boat was miserable affair, and easily
overturned. An awkward movement on hi
part sent it over as quick as a fash. I wa
as wet as l could be, SO did not mind my sec
ond bath. He came to the surface putting
and blowing, and the instant he got tn,
water out his mouth gasped:
"Did-we-lose--dot--p
l came near sinking in the paroxysm O
laughter that seized me at his exhibition O.
the ''ruling passion" A small island wa
near and we swan ashore. When recov
cred my breath secured the boat and oar
which tloated near Keifer sat on the shor
the picture of despair, bemoaning the loss O
''dot pass" could only laugh. Everythin.
in the boat had gone to the bottom.
had been feeling proud of our success, an,
calculated on carrying a splendid string O
fish into town. But, of course, all were dee]
in tEeir native clement.
said everything had gone to the bottom
but l WAS wrong; our poles still floated.
picked up mine, wound up the line, thel
seized Keifer's. To my undsguised amaze
ment, l found the fish still Juggling at the line
Rowing to the shore, passed the pole t.
the disconsolate Deutscher, who soon had tn,
satisfaction of landing a five FOUNDER. Then
cold, wet and hungry we wended our way t,
the village, minus everything we had startet
out with but our poles, lines and Keifer'
pass" He was perfectly happy and salts
fed as he waddled along with his single fish
but my satisfaction was not so entire.
JOHNSON